NL1040698B1

NL1040698B1 - Tilt mechanism for bicycle carry rack.

Info

Publication number: NL1040698B1
Application number: NL1040698A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Wang Chiu-Kuei
Original assignee: King Rack Ind Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-28
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2017-07-27
Also published as: GB201403324D0; GB2514212A; FR3003826A1; NL1040698A; DE102014004067A1; TWM464364U

Abstract

A bicycle carry rack includes a frame on which the support member is connected, a pedal and a fixing unit. The frame has two bolt units extending therethrough. The frame extends through the pedal which has two recesses defined in two insides thereof. The bolt units are engaged with the two recesses. The fixing unit includes a fixed plate fixed with the hitch holder, and two wings. The two wings are located on two sides of the frame. A first pivot extends through a corner of each wing and the pivotal end of the pedal, so that the pedal is pivoted about the first pivot. An operation member extends through the pedal and the frame. A second pivot extends through the wings and the frame. The frame can be pivoted to tilt an angle about the second pivot by pressing the pedal while the operation member is removed.

Description

TITLE: TILT MECHANISM FOR BICYCLE CARRY RACK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELDS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bicycle carry rack, and more particularly, to a tilt mechanism of a bicycle carry rack which can be tilt an angle to allow the hack door to be opened.

DESCRIPTIONS OF RELATED ART

The conventional bicycle carry rack is designed to be connected to the rear end or the top of a vehicle so as to carry bicycles with the vehicle such that the users can bring their bicycles to far destinations. The hatchback cars are welcomed for the past years and includes two or four doors on two sides, and one back door on the rear end so as to conveniently put or take luggage.

The conventional bicycle carry rack is connected to a hitch ball on the rear end of the car. Because the bicycle carry rack is located right beside the back door at the rear end of the car, so that when the bicycle carry rack is installed to the rear end of the car, the back door cannot be opened. The only way is to remove the bicycle carry rack from the car, and then open the back door to put or pick the luggage. After that, the back door is closed and the bicycle carry rack has to be installed to the car again. This is not convenient for the users and the frequent installation and removal of the bicycle carry rack take a lot of time.

The present invention intends to provide a tilt mechanism for a bicycle carry rack wherein the frame of the bicycle carry rack can be tilt an angle without removed from the car, so that the back door can be opened while the bicycle carry rack is still connected with the car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bicycle carry rack and comprises a frame having a first end on the top thereof and a second end on the bottom thereof. The first end carries the bicycles, and the second end has a first hole, a second hole and a third hole defined transversely therethrough. Two bolt units extend through the first hole from two sides of the frame. A pedal has an opening defined through the central portion thereof. The second end of the frame extends through the opening. The pedal has a pivot end and a step end. Each of two insides of the pedal has a recess defined therein and the bolt units are engaged with the two recesses respectively. A fixing unit has a fixed plate and two wings. The fixed plate and the two wings are located on three sides of the second end that protrudes from the pedal.

The fixed plate is fixed to a hitch holder. A spring is connected between the fixed plate and the pivotal end of the pedal so as to provide a force to allow the pedal to bounce back. Each of the two wings has a corner located corresponding to the pivotal end and a fist pivot extends through the corner and the pivotal end. The pedal is pivotable about the first pivot.

An operation member is located below the first pivot and extending through the two wings. The pedal and the second hole of the frame, so that the frame and the pedal cannot rotate relative to the fixing unit. A second pivot is located below the wings and extends through the wings and the second end of the frame. When the operation member is removed from the two wings, the pedal and the second hole of the frame, and the pedal is pivoted, the frame is pivoted about the second pivot.

Preferably, a buffering member has a first end inserted into the second end of the frame and a second end of the buffering member is an end portion which is inserted into an engaging hole of the fixed plate. When the frame is tilt, the end portion is disengaged from the fixing hole. When the frame is oriented upright, the end portion is engaged with the engaging hole.

Preferably, the pedal has two sidewalls which are connected between the pivotal end and the step end. Each of the two sidewalls has the recess which is a V-shaped recess. A first aperture and a second aperture are respectively and transversely defined through the two sidewalls and located respectively close to two ends of the recesses.

Preferably, the fixed plate of the fixing unit is an L-shaped plate. The two wings are symmetrically welded to two sides of the fixed plate so be cooperated with the fixed plate to form a U-shaped part. Each of the two wings has a first wing hole, a second wing hole and a third wing hole. The first wing hole is defined in the corner of each of the wings and located corresponding to the first aperture of the pedal. The first pivot extends through the first wing holes and the first aperture of the pedal. The second wing holes are located corresponding to the second aperture of the pedal and the second hole of the frame. The operation member extends through the second wing holes, the second aperture of the pedal and the second hole of the frame. The third wing holes are located corresponding to the third hole of the frame. The second pivot extends through the third wing holes and the third hole of the frame.

Preferably, the operation member has a shank extending horizontally therefrom. A lateral rod extends radially and laterally from the operation member. The lateral rod is perpendicular to the shank and a ring is fixed to the distal end of the lateral rod. The shank extends through the second wing holes, the second aperture and the second hole. A nut is threadedly connected to the distal end of the shank to securely connect the frame and the pedal so that the frame and the pedal are secured relative to the fixing unit.

Preferably, a U-shaped stop member has two arms which are connected to two respective outsides of the two wings and located between the operation member and the second pivot. The U-shaped stop member has a closed end which is located beneath the pedal and exposed from the frame and the two wings. The closed end of the stop member restricts the tilt angle of the frame.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tilt mechanism for a bicycle carry rack, when the operation member is pulled from the bicycle carry rack, the pedal is able to be pivoted so that the frame is tilt to provide sufficient space for the opening of the back door of the car. Therefore, the user does not need to dismount the whole set of the bicycle carry rack to open the back door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tilt mechanism for a bicycle carry rack, wherein the user steps on the pedal and push the support member on the top of the frame to tilt the frame. The frame extends through pedal so that the angle that the frame is tilt is restricted within the pedal. There is a stop ember provided to further restrict the frame from overly pivoted.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the bicycle carry rack of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view to show the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side cross sectional view to show the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side cross sectional view to show the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention, wherein the pedal is stepped downward;

Fig. 6 is a side cross sectional view to show that when the pedal is stepped downward, the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention is activated and the frame is pivoted, and

Fig. 7 a top partial cross sectional view to show the tilt mechanism of the bicycle carry rack of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Fig. 1, the bicycle carry rack 10 of the present invention comprises a frame 20, a support member 11 and multiple clampers 13 connected to the support member 11. The frame 10 has a first end 21 on the top thereof and a second end 22 on the bottom thereof. The first end 21 is connected with a U-shaped support member 11. Multiple clampers 13 are connected to the support member 11 so as to carry bicycles (not shown).

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the tilt mechanism of the present invention comprises a pedal 30 connected to the second end 22 of the frame 20, and the pedal 30 can be pivoted downward. A fixing unit 40 is connected to a hitch holder 50 which holds the hitch ball so as to be connected to the car. When the pedal 30 is pivoted downward, the frame 20 is tilt.

The second end 22 has a first hole 23, a second hole 24 and a third hole 25 defined transversely therethrough. Two bolt units 26 extend through the first hole 23 from two sides of the frame 20. The two bolt units 26 exposed from the frame 20 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A buffering member 27 has a first end inserted into the second end 22 of the frame 20 and a second end of the buffering member 27 is an end portion 271 which is smaller than the first end.

The pedal 30 has an opening 31 defined through the central portion thereof. The pedal 30 has two sidewalls 32 which are connected between a pivotal end 33 and a step end 331. Each of the two sidewalls 32 has a recess 34 defined in an inside thereof and the recess 34 which is a V-shaped recess. The two respective recesses 34 are located close to the pivotal end 33. A spring 35 is connected between the pivotal end 33 and the outside of the hitch holder 50 so that the pedal 30 can bounce back after being released. The second end 22 of the frame 20 extends through the opening 31. The bolt units 26 are engaged with the two recesses 34 respectively. A first aperture 36 and a second aperture 37 are respectively and transversely defined through the two sidewalls 32 and located respectively close to two ends of the recesses 34.

The fixing unit 40 comprises a fixed plate 41 and two wings 44. The fixed plate 41 of the fixing unit 40 is an L-shaped plate, and the two wings 44 are symmetrically welded to two sides of the fixed plate 41 so as to be cooperated with the fixed plate 41 to form a U-shaped part in which the second end 22 that protrudes from the pedal 30 is located. The lower portion of the fixed plate 41 is fixed to hitch holder 50 and the top portion of the fixed plate 41 has an engaging hole 412. The end portion 271 of the buffering member 27 is engaged with the engaging hole 412, and the spring 35 has one end hooked to the fixed plate 41 at the position below the engaging hole 412. The two wings 44 are symmetrically welded to two sides of the fixed plate 41 so as to be cooperated with the fixed plate 41 to form the U-shaped part. Each of the two wings 44 has a first wing hole 45, a second wing hole 451 and a third wing hole 452.

The first wing hole 45 is defined in a corner of each of the wings 44 and located corresponding to the first aperture 36 of the pedal 30. A first pivot 46 extends through the first wing holes 45 and the first aperture 36 of the pedal 30 so that the pedal 30 is pivotable about the first pivot 46. The second wing holes 451 are located corresponding to the second aperture 37 of the pedal 30 and the second hole 24 of the frame 20. An operation member 47 extends through the second wing holes 451, the second aperture 37 of the pedal 30 and the second hole 24 of the frame 20 provide a positioning feature. The operation member 47 is located below the first pivot 46. The operation member 47 has a shank 471 extending horizontally therefrom, and a lateral rod 472 extends radially and laterally from the operation member 47. The lateral rod 472 is perpendicular to the shank 471. A ring 473 is fixed ’ to the distal end of the lateral rod 472. The shank 471 extends through the second wing holes 451, the second aperture 37 and the second hole 24. A nut 474 is threadedly connected to the distal end of the shank 471 to securely connect the frame 20 and the pedal 30. When the frame 20 is to be pivoted, the shank 471 has to be separated from the nut 474 first. The nut 474 can be connected with the shank 471 after the shank 471 extends through the ring 473 so that the nut 474 does not lose. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the third wing holes 452 are located corresponding to the third hole 25 of the frame 20. A second pivot 48 extends through the third wing holes 452 and the third hole 25 of the frame 20 As shown in Figs. 2 and 7 so that the frame 20 is able to be pivoted about the second pivot 48. The second pivot 48 is a bolt which is cooperated with a sleeve and extends through the wings 44, and is connected with a nut. A U-shaped stop member 60 has two arms which are connected to two respective outsides of the two wings 44 and located between the operation member 47 and the second pivot 48. The U-shaped stop member 60 has a closed end 62 which is located beneath the pedal 30 and exposed from the frame 20 and the two wings 44. The closed end 62 of the stop member 60 restricts the tilt angle of the frame 20.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the hitch holder 50 is connected to the rear end of the car. The pedal 30 is connected to the second end 22 of the frame 20, and the stop member 60 is located below the pedal 30. The second end 22 of the frame 20 extends through the opening 31 of the pedal 30. The second pivot 48 extends through the second end 22 so as to be fixed between the two wings 44. When in use, the frame 20 is upright and the bolt units 26 are located at the lowest position of the recesses 34 because of the pedal 30 so that the frame 20 does not tilt. The operation member 47 is connected to the fixing unit 40, the pedal 30 and the frame 20 to secure the frame 20, the fixing unit 40 and the pedal 30. Therefore, the frame 20 is kept at upright position, and the lateral rod 472 extends downward.

When the back door of the car needs to be opened while the bicycle carry rack is connected to the car, the frame 20 needs to be tilt an angle and the bicycle carry rack does not need to be removed from the car.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, when tilting the frame 20, the shank 471 is separated from the nut 474, and the operation member 47 is removed from the frame 20 and the pedal 30, the nut 474 is positioned in the ring 473. The pedal 30 is stepped downward which is pivoted about the first pivot 46 so that the step end 331 is lowered and the pivotal end 33 is raised. The bolt units 26 are completely removed from the recesses 34 as shown in Figs. 3 to 6. The user pulls the frame 20 toward the pedal 30 to separate the end portion 271 from the engaging hole 412. The frame 20 is pivoted about the second pivot 48 until the frame 20 is stopped by the closed end of the stop member 60. Therefore, the back door can be opened without hitting the bicycle carry rack 10. Even if the bicycles are secured on the bicycle carry rack 10, the back door does not interfere the bicycle carry rack 10.

When the frame 20 is to be returned to the upright position, the user simply pushes the frame 20 back to re-insert the end portion 271 into the engaging hole 412 to initially position the frame 20. The pedal 30 is then released and bounces back by the spring 35, the pedal 30 is pivoted about the first pivot 46. The bolt units 26 are engaged with the lowest positions of the recesses 34 again. The operation member 47 then extends through the second wing holes 451 of the wings 44, the second aperture 37 of the pedal 30 and the second hole 24 of the frame 20. The operation member 47 secures the frame 20 at the upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Fietsdraagrek, omvattende: een frame met een eerste uiteinde aan een bovenzijde daarvan en een tweede uiteinde aan een bodem daarvan, welk eerste uiteinde is ingericht voor het dragen van fietsen, waarbij het tweede uiteinde dwars daardoorheen gedefinieerd een eerste gat, een tweede gat en een derde gat heeft, en twee bouteenheden die door het eerste gat vanaf twee zijden van het frame reiken; een pedaal dat een opening gedefinieerd heeft door een centraal gedeelte daarvan, waarbij het tweede uiteinde van het frame door de opening reikt, waarbij het pedaal een scharniereinde en een stapeinde heeft, waarbij elk van de twee binnenzijden van het pedaal een uitsparing daarin gedefinieerd heeft en de bouteenheden respectievelijk in aangrijping zijn met de twee uitsparingen; een fixeereenheid die een vaste plaat en twee vleugels heeft, waarbij de vaste plaat en de twee vleugels zich bevinden op drie zijden van het tweede uiteinde dat uitsteekt vanaf het pedaal, waarbij de vaste plaat is ingericht om bevestigd te worden aan een haakhouder, waarbij er een veer verbonden is tussen de vaste plaat en het scharniereinde van het pedaal teneinde een kracht te verschaffen om het pedaal te laten terugkaatsen, waarbij elk van de twee vleugels een hoek heeft die zich bevindt corresponderend met het scharniereinde en een eerste scharnier zich uitstrekt door de hoek en het scharniereinde, waarbij het pedaal scharnierbaar is om het eerste scharnier, en een bedieningsorgaan dat zich bevindt onder het eerste scharnier en zich uitstrekt door de twee vleugels, het pedaal en het tweede gat van het frame, waarbij het frame en het pedaal niet kunnen roteren ten opzichte van de fixeereenheid, een tweede scharnier dat zich bevindt onder de vleugels en zich uitstrekt door de vleugels en het tweede uiteinde van het frame, wanneer het bedieningsorgaan wordt weggenomen van de twee vleugels, het pedaal en het tweede gat van het frame, en het pedaal gescharnierd wordt, wordt het frame gescharnierd om het tweede scharnier.A bicycle carrying rack, comprising: a frame with a first end on an upper side thereof and a second end on a bottom thereof, which first end is adapted to carry bicycles, the second end defined transversely therethrough a first hole, a second hole and has a third hole, and two bolt units that extend through the first hole from two sides of the frame; a pedal that has an aperture defined by a central portion thereof, the second end of the frame extending through the aperture, the pedal having a hinge end and a step end, each of the two inner sides of the pedal having a recess defined therein, and the bolt units are respectively engaged with the two recesses; a fixing unit that has a fixed plate and two wings, the fixed plate and the two wings being on three sides of the second end protruding from the pedal, the fixed plate being adapted to be attached to a hook holder, wherein a spring is connected between the fixed plate and the hinge end of the pedal to provide a force for the pedal to rebound, wherein each of the two wings has an angle corresponding to the hinge end and a first hinge extends through the angle and the hinge end, the pedal being pivotable about the first hinge, and an operating member located below the first hinge and extending through the two wings, the pedal and the second hole of the frame, the frame and the pedal not can rotate with respect to the fixing unit, a second hinge located under the wings and extending through the wing and the second end of the frame, when the actuator is removed from the two wings, the pedal and the second hole of the frame, and the pedal is pivoted, the frame is pivoted about the second hinge.

2. Fietsdraagrek volgens conclusie 1, waarbij een bufferorgaan een eerste uiteinde heeft ingebracht in het tweede uiteinde van het frame en een tweede uiteinde van het bufferorgaan een eindportie is die is ingebracht in een aangrijpgat van de vaste plaat, wanneer het frame gekanteld wordt, wordt de eindportie ontkoppeld van het fixeergat, wanneer het frame rechtop georiënteerd wordt, wordt de eindportie in aangrijping gebracht met het aangrijpgat.The bicycle carrying rack of claim 1, wherein a buffer member has a first end inserted into the second end of the frame and a second end of the buffer member is an end portion that is inserted into an engagement hole of the fixed plate when the frame is tilted the end portion disengaged from the fixing hole, when the frame is oriented upright, the end portion is brought into engagement with the engagement hole.

3. Fietsdraagrek volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het pedaal twee zijwanden heeft die verbonden zijn tussen het scharniereinde en het stapeinde, waarbij elk van de twee zijwanden een verdieping heeft die een V-vormige verdieping is, een eerste opening en een tweede opening respectievelijk en transversaal gedefinieerd zijn door de twee zijwanden en zich respectievelijk dicht bij twee uiteinden van de verdiepingen bevinden.The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein the pedal has two side walls connected between the hinge end and the step end, each of the two side walls having a floor that is a V-shaped floor, a first opening and a second opening, respectively and transversally are defined by the two side walls and are respectively close to two ends of the floors.

4. Fietsdraagrek volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de vaste plaat van de fixeereenheid een L-vormige plaat is, de twee vleugels symmetrisch gelast zijn aan twee zijden van de vaste plaat teneinde samen te werken met de vaste plaat om een U-vormig deel te vormen, waarbij elk van de twee vleugels een eerste vleugelgat heeft, een tweede vleugelgat en een derde vleugelgat, waarbij het eerste vleugelgat gedefinieerd is in de hoek van elk van de vleugels en geplaatst is corresponderend met de eerste opening van het pedaal, het eerste scharnier zich uitstrekt door de eerste vleugelgaten en de eerste opening van het pedaal, de tweede vieugelgaten geplaatst zijn corresponderend met de tweede opening van het pedaal en het tweede gat van het frame, het bedieningsorgaan zich uitstrekt door de tweede vleugelgaten, de tweede opening van het pedaal en het tweede gat van het frame, waarbij de derde vleugelgaten geplaatst zijn corresponderend met het derde gat van het frame, het tweede scharnier zich uitstrekt door de derde vleugelgaten en het derde gat van het frame.The bicycle carrying rack according to claim 3, wherein the fixed plate of the fixing unit is an L-shaped plate, the two wings are symmetrically welded on two sides of the fixed plate to cooperate with the fixed plate to form a U-shaped part wherein each of the two wings has a first wing hole, a second wing hole and a third wing hole, the first wing hole being defined in the corner of each of the wings and positioned corresponding to the first opening of the pedal, the first hinge being extending through the first wing holes and the first opening of the pedal, the second wing holes positioned corresponding to the second opening of the pedal and the second hole of the frame, the control member extending through the second wing holes, the second opening of the pedal and the second hole of the frame, wherein the third wing holes are positioned corresponding to the third hole of the frame, the second hinge extends through the third wing holes and the third hole of the frame.

5. Fietsdraagrek volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het bedieningsorgaan een steel heeft die zich horizontaal daarvandaan uitstrekt, waarbij er een laterale staaf zich radiaal en lateraal uitstrekt vanaf het bedieningsorgaan, waarbij de laterale staaf loodrecht staat op de steel, waarbij er een ring bevestigd is aan een distaai uiteinde van de laterale staaf, de steel zich uitstrekt door de tweede vleugelgaten, de tweede opening en het tweede gat, waarbij er een moer door middel van schroefdraad is verbonden met een distaai uiteinde van de steel om het frame en het pedaal zeker te verbinden zodat het frame en het pedaal gezekerd zijn ten opzichte van de bevestigingseenheid.The bicycle carrying rack of claim 1, wherein the operating member has a handle extending horizontally therefrom, a lateral bar extending radially and laterally from the operating member, the lateral bar perpendicular to the handle, a ring attached to it a distal end of the lateral bar, the stem extending through the second wing holes, the second opening and the second hole, a threaded nut being connected to a distal end of the stem to secure the frame and pedal connecting such that the frame and pedal are secured with respect to the mounting unit.

6. Fietsdraagrek volgens conclusie 1, waarbij een U-vormig aanslagorgaan twee armen heeft die verbonden zijn met twee respectieve buitenzijden van de twee vleugels en zich bevinden tussen het bedieningsorgaan en het tweede scharnier, waarbij het U-vormige aanslagorgaan een gesloten uiteinde heeft dat zich bevindt onder het pedaal en blootligt vanaf het frame en de twee vleugels, waarbij het gesloten uiteinde van het aanslagorgaan een kantelhoek van het frame beperkt.The bicycle carrying rack according to claim 1, wherein a U-shaped stop member has two arms connected to two respective outer sides of the two wings and located between the operating member and the second hinge, the U-shaped stop member having a closed end that is located under the pedal and exposed from the frame and the two wings, the closed end of the stop member limiting a tilt angle of the frame.